After the head shots we reminisced. I got to know her dogs and tour her home. She made me feel at home with a perfect cappuccino. Struck by the lime green paint on the front door of her home, I knew we had the makings of a fine personality portrait.

Ok. Let me say upfront, I have a pet peeve against bad head shots. It makes no sense to me when I see an accomplished executive or a friendly face on FaceBook and they have a lousy head shot. The selfie craze doesn't help either. Granted it's possible to snap a decent headshot of yourself. Maybe even your mom will get lucky and catch you just right. I'm on a crusade to kill bad headshots. In fact, I offer a professional head shot starting at only $49. That includes the digital file, printing rights, and retouching. In the meantime, if you insist on doing it yourself, keep three things in mind.

1. Composition. A good head shot is tight. From the shoulders up.

2. Lighting. Some of the best lighting is natural light, with a little fill flash. Window lighting is often ideal because it's diffuse.

3. Posing. Should be natural, but watch your angles. Set your focus point on the eye closest to the camera and make sure that eye is the larger eye (very few of us are completely symmetrical). Shoot from slightly above eye level to help create a well defined neckline.

Technology has come a long way. This is a photo I took in 2009 of Snohomish Falls, just outside of Seattle. New technology from Plotograph allows me to animate the motion of the falls, making the photo that much more realistic. Enjoy

Several professional clients have recently engaged me to document their events. These events come in all sizes, including charity galas, special consumer promotions, employee recognition, etc. Documentary photography can help businesses and charities make the most of their event investment. Professional slideshows are an effective way to socially thank guests, remind them of the experience, and encourage goodwill toward your brand and services long after the event.

The video below is from the grand opening of Oasis Accents, a new specialty retail store in the prestigious Shops at Starwood in Frisco, Texas. If you haven't had the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting the store and introducing yourself to store owner, Karen White.

I've noticed that sometimes the best photographs emerge after you've been away from them for a couple of weeks. I'm always looking to capture portraits that are timeless and that tell a story. In this case, the life-long relationship of a brother and sister. Here's to them. May they lead healthy, happy lives and always remain close.

It's one thing to pose. It's quite another to catch kids being kids. These are the candid moments most appreciated. In this case, we had just finished some poses on the bridge. After we were done, the mother said run! And run they did.

This is a shot I captured at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. I waited for two hours for the crowds to clear and a person to come into the scene. Without the person, the viewer would have no idea how large the painting of Washington actually is.